The Student Hacker in Classroom 4B: Schools Face a Growing Insider Threat

A new report from the UK’s data watchdog has uncovered a troubling trend: students are now the leading source of insider cyber attacks against their own schools and colleges. Accounting for 57% of investigated breaches, these aren’t always malicious acts but often start as dares or experiments that spiral out of control. From accessing thousands of sensitive records to using easily downloaded hacking tools, this phenomenon highlights a critical gap in school security and a urgent need to guide students’ technical skills toward positive cybersecurity careers instead of crime.